# Accident 19990201001249A: Bell 206L3, Gulf Of Mexico, LA, February 1, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 1, 1999, 10:56 local time
- Place: Gulf Of Mexico, LA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: HEEA
- Aircraft: N6603X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6603X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206L-3 (registry code 1182108, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C30 series (registry code 03015, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L3
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C30P
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,893 total, 2,517 in this make and model, 152 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW99LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA077) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990201001249A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PETROLEUM HELICOPTERS 1990 BELL 206L-3 HELICOPTER TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE WIND SOCK ON LANDING, AND THE ROTOR SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED TO THE PILOT/SOLE OCCUPANT. OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (FROM .4)  THE HELICOPTER'S TAIL ROTOR MADE CONTACT WITH THE OFFSHORE PLATFORM'S WINDSOCK (WEST DELTA 105B HELI-PAD) DURING FINAL APPROACH TO LANDING.  THE PILOT HEARD A BUZZING SOUND FOLLOWED BY A RIGHT YAW.  HE THEN EXECUTED A HOVERING AUTOROTATION TO THE PLATFORM.  INSPECTION OF THE WINDSOCK SUPPORT FRAME SHOWED SIGNS OF TAIL ROTOR IMPACT DAMAGE.                       (-23)ON LANDING AT WD-105B (GOM), PILOT HEARD A BUZZING SOUND FOLLOWED BY A RIGHT YAW OF THE AIRCRAFT.  PILOT EXECUTED A HOVERING AUTO ROTATION OT THE PLATFORM.  UPON SHUTDOWN, PILOT NOTICED PART OF THE END OF ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE MISSING, APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 INCHES.  SUSPECT TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED THE WIND SOCK DURING APPROACH.  NOTE: FOUND WIND SOCK FRAME WITH EVIDENCE OF TAIL ROTOR BLADE STRIKE ON PLATFORM.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW99LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA077), Feb 1, 1999: Bell 206L-3 (N6603X), West Delta 105b, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the oil platform's windsock on final approach to landing.

## Other reports on N6603X (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19950907043289I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950907043289I), Sep 7, 1995: Bell 206L3 (N6603X), Venice, LA. Narrative: on September 7, 1995, at 1005, a Bell 206L-3 helicopter, N6603X, owned by petroleum helicopters, inc. (phi), experienced a hydraulic failure during…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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